Alshammar sets world record for 50m butterfly

MADRID, June 14 (Reuters) Sweden's Therese Alshammar set a world record of 25.46 seconds for the 50 metres butterfly in the ''Mare Nostrum'' international trophy event in Barcelona.

The 29-year-old shaved 11 hundredths of a second off the previous long course record of 25.57 set by compatriot Anna-Karin Kammerling in July 2002 in Berlin yesterday.

Alshammar, a gold medallist in the 50m butterfly at the recent world championships in Melbourne, said the relaxed nature of the event had helped her set a new mark.

''In Melbourne I set off really fast and won the event and I was very close to the world record,'' she told reporters. ''But here I had less pressure and was calmer after some very good preparation.

''I haven't got many awards like this and at last I've got one and it has come at a good time in the season.'' Reuters AKD VP0740